A person who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males both between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention prior to a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "This year his family member had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the man proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the police again.
She explained the man then conducted the "candy game" in a space of five children.
